Guard for switch-points



(No Model.)

P. R. RANDALL.

GUARD FOR SWITCH POINTS.

Patented Mar. 20, 1888.

llNITED TATES ATENT Fries.

PETER R. RANDALL, OF AGENCY, MISSOURI.

GUARD FOR SWITCH-POINTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,809, dated March 20,1888.

(N0 model.)

To cLZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER R. RANDALL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Agency, in the county of Buchanan and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Guards for Switch Points; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of ref erence marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and use ful improvements in guards for switch-points of railroad-rails, the object of my invention being to provide a means for protecting the points of the switch-rails when they are not in use, so as to prevent the points from being injured, the same being especially adapted to be used in connection with a split switch, as will be hereinafter fully set forth; and my invention consists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a plan View showing my improvement applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the block for protecting the rail-point, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view.

A A refer to the pointrails, which rest upon the ties, and are connected to each other by straps or bars a c, a bar, a, connecting the points with the switch-stand, so as to move the point-ruils when desired. The stock-rails B B are rigidly spiked to the ties in the usual manner.

On each side of the stock-rails B B, within the tracks and at a slight distance therefrom upon the ties, are spiked blocks 0 O, which are provided with a flat base, 0. The inner face of the block is recessed, as shown at D, so as to conform with the shape of the rail, and the end of the block farthest from the railpoint extends from the base and recess, so as to project therefrom. The blocks are curved from their tops to their inner edges. The

metal in rear of the opening D is thickened, as shown, and gradually curved downward, as

at c, to a rear curved securing-flange, c. The block is formed with an overhanging shoulder, 0 at the top part of the opening D, which covers the top of the switch-points when resting in the recess D. At the forward end of the opening D a smooth vertical wall, 0 is formed, which provides a shoulder adjacent to the flat securing-flange o". E

By providing a braceblock constructed as sho wn, when the switch-points are moved they will lie within the recess, so as to be fully protected, and the base-flange of the pointed rail will lie within the recess formed in the block, so as to prevent the rail turning, the rail in contact with the block preventing the opposite rail moving.

It will be observed that the vertical portion of the block extends beyond the recess, so that the point can lie fully within the recess in the block, and that the main portion of the upper edge of the base is smooth and of less thickness than the end portion, which has a perforation through which a spike passes.

By means of this device the movable rails are not only braced, but the movement of the same when thrown is limited.

I claim As an improved article of manufacture, a guard for switchpoints, consisting of a metallio cast block having an open end constructed by the formation of the recess D, which has a top overhanging shoulder, c, the metal in the rear being thickened and curving downward to a circular flange, c", the forward portion of said slot D being bounded by a straight wall and a flat straight securingflange, c", the said opening D opening into one side of the block and conforming to the contour of the switch,the said block being secured on the tie upon which the switch-points move, with the open ends thereof adjacent to the switch-points and the open sides facing the rails of the main track, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PETER R. RANDALL. lVitnesses:

BILL WALLER, JOSEPH ORABTREE. 

